LA Galaxy add Brazilian forward Samuel on loan

The 22-year-old striker joins the Galaxy from Fluminense

January 6, 2014

LA Galaxy Communications

CARSON, Calif. (Tuesday, January 7, 2014) – The LA Galaxy announced today that the club has acquired Brazilian forward Samuel on loan from Fluminense of Brazil’s Serie A. The 22-year-old joins the Galaxy after spending the past two seasons with Fluminense, tallying 15 goals in 72 appearances across all competitions for the Rio de Janeiro-based side, including one in his last game for the club early last month. Samuel will be added to the Galaxy roster pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P1 Visa. Per club and league policy terms of the loan agreement were not disclosed.

“We are pleased to add Samuel to our roster,” said LA Galaxy Head Coach and General Manager Bruce Arena. “Samuel is a young, talented forward with both size and skill. We are confident his addition will help boost our attack in 2014.”

Samuel debuted for Fluminense during the 2012 Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A season, scoring five goals in 23 league appearances for the club, which won their fourth championship in club history that year. He also made five appearances in the 2012 Campeonato Carioca, which is the regional championship for the state of Rio de Janeiro, helping lead the club to that title as well. Last season, the 22-year-old had nine goals in 45 appearances in all competitions, scoring four times in Serie A play, four times in the Campeonato Carioca and once in the Copa do Brazil. He started in 12 of his 24 league appearances for Fluminense while also appearing in eight games during that year’s Copa Libertadores, helping his team reach the quarterfinals of South America’s premier continental club competition.

A native of Sao Borja, Brazil, Samuel began his professional career with Internacional in 2009. He won the first of three youth championships with the club that year, helping Internacional claim the Campeonato Gaúcho Under-20 title. The following year, Samuel and the Porto Alegre club won both the 2010 Campeonato Gaúcho Under-19 championship and the inaugural Campeonato Brasileiro Under-23 crown.

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